Veronica sat silent for a time, and then rose and went to her own room.
She could not sleep, but she had no inclination to seek relief for trouble
in her sewing, as she had been accustomed to do. Gertrude's words were
working in her heart. How often had she said lately in the proud
bitterness of her heart, "A fine truth indeed!

'Fortune stands ready, full in sight,
He wins, who knows to grasp it right!'"

And now Gertrude had shown her that the words were true after all, and
that she had herself grasped Happiness, the truest Fortune, even in the
midst of a deep sorrow, greater even than Veronica's own.

Sleeplessly for Veronica the hours of the night went by; but over and over
again the mother's words sounded in her ears, and she strove to quiet with
them the trouble and unrest of her heart.




CHAPTER X.

MAN PROPOSES, BUT GOD DISPOSES.


Still no news came from Dietrich. Jost made many attempts to show Veronica
how much he wished to win her favor. He often went to meet her, and he
gave himself endless trouble to convince her of his attachment. He could
not boast that he made himself of any use by going to meet her; for she